Akon
Photo: MTV News

Over the last few years, Akon had the opportunity to work closely with Michael Jackson. The duo recorded many tracks together for possible future Jackson releases. Akon relished working with the superstar, and the one thing that really stuck with him is the fact that Jackson was never satisfied; he was a perfectionist.

"A lot of our memories in the studio is a lot about work, because he was so focused on trying to get the right material out that we didn't really play around," the producer told MTV News. "Like, we talked, but we rarely joked, because at that moment, regardless of what we were doing it's like, 'Lets get serious and really do what we came here to do.' "

What the guys were there to do was concoct another memorable Jackson song — and the two really vibed while collaborating. "It was all about the melody, 'cause we both were melody guys," he explained. "Everything started with the melody. We both would hum the melody and try to create the biz around it."

But despite that common bond, the guys had disagreements over when a track was ready for public consumption. Jackson, being the consummate perfectionist, was almost never ready to release songs, even when Akon knew they had a smash hit on their hands.

"He was never satisfied. Like, we might have passed up ideas that I know for a fact were smashes. He'd be like, 'Nah, nah — we got to come up with something better,' " Akon explained. "We can never do better 'cause his expectation was so high. It was almost to a point where we would have to get a record and I would believe in it and just put it out, 'cause it would never come out 'cause he always believed we could do better."

Don't miss "Michael Jackson's This Is It" Premiere Special, airing on MTV and VH1 on Tuesday, October 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET! "Michael Jackson's This Is It" opens in a limited engagement on October 27 and wide on October 28.

Check out everything we've got on "Michael Jackson's This Is It."

• 'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Recalls Lasting Influence
• 'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Rehearsal Clips

• 'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Trailer Frames
• "Michael Jackson's This Is It"

• Akon
• Michael Jackson

Lady Gaga
Photo: Ian Gavan/ Getty Images

After winning three Moonmen at the 2009 VMAs and becoming the first singer in a decade to hit #1 with her first two singles, Lady Gaga has definitely certified herself as the breakout star of the year.

Akon, who signed Gaga to his Kon Live Distribution label in 2008 and calls her his "franchise player," said his protégé's success is the result of a lot of hard work.

"She's definitely paid her dues," 'Kon told MTV News. "She's been through all kinds of strings and ropes. She's jumped through all kinds of hoops. It was just a matter of time for her. You can't stop true talent. And you can't stop the truth. If that's what it is, that's what it is. At the end of the day, she's one of those rare finds. A diamond in the rough that you just have to polish out and let shine, and that's exactly what she's doing."

The often outrageously costumed singer scored VMA wins for Best New Artist, Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects with her "Paparazzi" video. Next up, she'll take her theatrical act on the road for her co-headlining tour with Kanye West. She told the BBC last month that the trek would be "groundbreaking."

Akon — who has also had a hand in the careers of T-Pain, Rock City and Kat DeLuna, among others — is clearly proud of how far Gaga has come.

"It's Gaga all day," 'Kon enthused. "Gaga, at the end of the day, is the truth. I love her. Right now my heart is with Gaga."

• Lady Gaga
• Akon

Michael Jackson

Mary J. Blige and Akon are among the first group of artists announced for the September 26 Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna being put together by the late pop singer's brother Jermaine Jackson. While Chris Brown was originally announced as a performer, his participation has not been confirmed, his rep told MTV News on Tuesday (September 8).

Organizers also announced that veteran acts Natalie Cole and Sister Sledge will perform outside the 17th-century palace of Schönbrunn in the Austrian capital, with more names slated to be announced later this week at press conferences in London on Wednesday and Berlin on Thursday.

The first group of performers also includes boy band US 5, protégés of imprisoned boy-band impresario Lou Pearlman, and actress Angela Bassett, who portrayed family matriarch Katherine Jackson in the TV-movie "The Jacksons: An American Dream." According to organizers, Bassett will "impersonate one part of Michael Jackson's life." A total of 20-25 acts are expected to take part in the concert, which will be televised around the globe.

The performers will be backed by Jackson's touring band, with whom he'd rehearsed for weeks before his untimely death on June 25 at the age of 50. The dancers for his planned This Is It concerts in London will also be on the bill.

Jermaine will sing a virtual duet with his late brother that he promises will be a "magic moment for all who loved his music." Among the songs that will performed by various artists at the event are "Man in the Mirror," "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Thriller," "Black or White," "Earth Song," "Smooth Criminal," "Bad," "Dirty Diana," "Will You Be There," "You Are Not Alone," "Remember the Time," "Heal the World," "The Girl Is Mine" and "Scream."

The palace's grounds can accommodate more than 65,000 fans, who will watch the proceedings along with Jackson's family and children. The 165-foot-wide stage will feature massive LED walls that can slide together and apart and a runway that allows performers to walk through the audience.

[This story was originally published at 9:14 a.m. ET on 09.08.2009]

• Michael Jackson's Life & Legacy
• Michael Jackson In His Own Words: The Music Videos

• Family & Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson

• Michael Jackson
• Mary J. Blige
• Akon

French Montana
Photo: MTV News

Young French, or French Montana as he's now known, is ready for the big time.

You've heard of French if you've been reading Mixtape Monday and Mixtape Daily over the past several years. He started making a name for himself with his street DVD series "Cocaine City." He then transitioned to the mic, most recently garnering buzz with Max B for their Coke Wave connection.

He signed with Akon's Konvict Music earlier this year, and now he's ready to sell some records. French is hoping to keep his 'hood momentum going towards the charts after leaking his new single, "Married to the Streets," which features Akon singing on the hook.

" 'Kon had a bunch of records for me," French said, explaining how the song was created. "It sounded like real pop, like Lady Gaga. I hollered at my producer, like, 'Send something to me.' 'Kon's sound changed. It came from 'Locked Up' to another sound. So, when I did that with him, it was a street record. That's how I wanted it to be. Working with Akon is like working with somebody I look up to. I admire his work. I had to come correct. I knew my sound."

French said the reason he wanted to ink with Konvict was obvious: He wanted to be a part of Akon's successful wave.

"As far as I look at Akon, all his artists are successful," he said. "He's got T-Pain, Lady Gaga, all these artists and they're all successful, out touring. There's not too many people you can say that about except for 50 Cent. 50 has Yayo, Banks — they're out there looking good. Plus, Akon gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. We're out rocking and rolling."

French and 'Kon linked up through SRC Records President Gaby Acevedo.

"[Akon] was in Florida, so he sent for me," French recalled. "I went down there to see him for a week. He was like, 'You can't leave until you sign the contract.' What's up? I went down there and played him all the music. He was like, 'Oh, God!' "

• Listen To French Montana's Song With Akon

• Akon

Akon
Photo: MTV News

Akon has recorded tracks with some of the biggest and brightest stars in music. But there's one star who was bigger and brighter than all the rest: Michael Jackson.

In 2007, Akon spent time in a Las Vegas studio with the King of Pop, writing and recording songs for what Jackson intended to be his comeback album. Nearly three years later, only two of those songs have surfaced: a remix of Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" that appeared on the 25th anniversary edition of MJ's Thriller album and "Hold My Hand," a track featuring both artists (but written by Claude Kelly), that made the file-sharing rounds last year.

And after Jackson's death in June, who knows when more of the tracks will see the light of day? Akon said that he and Jackson recorded "days" of material, most of which never made it past the demo stages. And, really, he's not that concerned if they are ever released, because, in the wake of Jackson's passing, Akon would prefer to reminisce about the man, not the music.

"My favorite moment was the day we actually met, because I didn't expect him to be that cool," Akon said in MTV's "Michael Jackson's Human Nature" special, which aired over the weekend. "I expected him to be this diva — just hard to deal with, rarely speaks, got to send his message through someone else, you know? Because these are the stories you hear."

Before they recorded a note of music, Akon had a sitdown meeting with Jackson, one that began predictably — and seemed to confirm the producer's worst fears — but quickly became a life-changing event.

"So I'm going upstairs [to meet him], I knock on the door, his bodyguard opens and says, 'OK, he's waiting to meet you.' I walk in and [Michael's] in this spinning chair, but it's facing backwards, so I walk in the room, but his back is turned, and the guard says, 'Hey, Mike, Akon's here.' So he spins around, like it was choreographed — so right away I was like, 'Oh boy,' " he laughed.

"But as soon as he turns around, gets up, 'Yo, what up, man?!' and I was like, 'What up, Mike?' and he gave me a pound, we hugged each other. He's like, 'Yo, I've been waiting to meet you for so long, this is a great honor, thanks for showing up, thanks for making the time.' And in my mind I'm like, 'You know, I should be thanking you for making the time.'

"It was the craziest thing, because we sat down, we talked about Africa, we talked about my foundation [Konfidence], we talked about the music, we talked about girls. We had a great, incredible time that day," he continued. "He was extremely funny, he told jokes, and he liked to have fun."

• Akon
• Michael Jackson

Red Cafe
Photo: MTV News

Red Cafe told Mixtape Daily that the working relationship between him and Diddy is like peanut butter and jelly. "He brings tracks in that he feels my voice would marry," Red said. "As well, I bring in what I been doing. He fell in love what I been doing already. The city fell in love with what I been doing already. So we don't wanna change that. It's a little of both."

Diddy putting out his first Brooklyn MC on Bad Boy since Shyne? Say no more. We had to bring it to you. Red's been a beast on the underground scene for a while. Masses, say hi. You'll be getting to know him well very soon.

This Week's Main Pick

Street Kings: Red Cafe (featuring Diddy)

Holding It Down For: NYC

Mixtape: Welcome to Bad Boy

Real Spit: Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, right in front of Red Cafe barber salon. It's the area where he laid his head as youngster, and it's the same spot he's invested back in. Cafe's "Hottest in the Hood" record has had a monster buzz this year. So much so, Diddy has jumped into business with the Brooklyn veteran of the underground rap circuit.

"He's been in the game for a minute. He's a well-respected lyricist and MC in the whole New York hip-hop scene," Diddy explained to us while sitting in his midtown Manhattan offices. "But he's not the average New York rapper. He has something special. That's why we signed him."

Diddy has partnered with Akon to release Red's debut.

"We thought it would be a great idea to collaborate, to put our forces together, to ensure the success of Red's career," Diddy added. "He's been hustling on the scene for, like, seven years now. Maybe longer than that. He's just now coming into his own. It's a 50/50 split. It's no secret to the deal. That's the best way to do partnerships with your friends and family. Hopefully, we can join our forces together and take Red to the place he needs to be taken to. He's one of the dopest MCs right now, and he's honed his craft. The type of music he chose to rock on top of makes him a unique MC."

"Just from knowing what Diddy brought to the table and what Bad Boy brought to the table, it's a pleasure to be a part of that," Cafe said about joining forces with PD. "Now it's about making sure that same chemistry comes to life in today's time. The good thing is Shakedown [Red and his company] are already moving. It's almost like a turnkey operation for Diddy. He does his things, adds his sprinkles to make it bigger. But it's already got legs. But I'm happy to be here."

Cafe's mixtape Welcome to Bad Boy came out recently, and he's working on a sequel.

"The part two is gonna be all original. That's how you gotta do it, because now it's a recession, but it's a drought for good music. I'm not gonna leave the people to look elsewhere for salvation. I gotta give them what they need: East Coast music."

Joints To Check For

» "Hottest in the Hood." "For me, when I put out the record, it was beautiful for people to embrace the record," Red said. "It's cocky to say you're the 'hottest in the 'hood.' You already know how hip-hop is. Hip-hop is very cooperative. For me to say that and people to embrace it, especially in my position with no album out, that was a special thing. At the same time, I want to acknowledge everyone else. I feel I'm the hottest in the 'hood, period, but it may be somebody else hot in their 'hood. You gotta acknowledge them. I pass the baton. I go in different 'hoods, I go in D.C., they got a whole DMV version of 'Hottest in the Hood.' In Philly, it's the same thing. In L.A., it's the same thing. It's different from the remixes we did.

"But reaching out to those guys, everybody wanted to do it," he added. "[Lloyd] Banks hollered at me personally. Busta, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Juiceman, Juelz Santana, Kardinal Offishall — I got verses from everybody. It was too much. You had Uncle Murda, Papoose, Juganot — everybody wanted to be a part of it. It was beautiful."

» "Co-Sign" " 'Co-Sign' is a record I felt needed to be made," he said. "A lot of people don't recognize people's talent as far as mass appeal until they get co-signed by someone else. They'll be like, 'Damn, dude is hot. I'm not sure I'm supposed to like him or not, though.' They wait for the co-sign. They wait for the dude that's up to say, 'Dude is crazy! Listen to homeboy.' That's what the 'Co-Sign' record is about. I don't need anybody to co-sign me. I'm hot, and I know I'm hot."

» "General" (featuring Maino). "Congratulations to Maino, congratulations to Brooklyn, congratulations to the Tri-State for supporting that record and making sure it came out. The 'General' record, we about to shoot the video for it. It's a record that was necessary. It was necessary for the two guys that's waving the Tri-State flag right now to get together and do something like 'General,' do something to represent all the generals across the country and outside the country."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: Plies, Ghostface, Soulja Boy, Diddy, More

• Diddy
• Red Cafe
• Akon

Whitney Houston
Photo: MTV News

Whitney Houson wasn't too sure about working with rapper/singer/producer Akon for her new album, I Look to You, when her label president, Clive Davis, suggested him as a suitable collaborator.

"When Clive told me I would be working with Akon, I thought, 'Hmm, interesting, um, all right,' " she told MTV News of her initial reaction to the producer of her song "Like I Never Left."

Houston realized she wanted to recapture what she had done with Wyclef Jean in 1999. "I wanted the record like 'My Love Is Your Love' with an island feel," she explained. "I wanted an island record because 'My Love Is Your Love' is so huge ... it has its own fashion with Wyclef. ... I wanted that feeling, but I didn't know who [could do that]. And Clive came and said, 'Akon is the guy that we're going to work with.' And I was like, 'OK, Akon. OK, I can deal with that.' "

But when Houston and Akon first met in the studio, her fears weren't exactly completely squelched after she heard how he came up with his moniker. "I was asking him, 'Did your mother name you Akon?' " Houston recalled. "And he said, 'No, it means a convict.' And I thought, 'Oh, God. OK, all right, I can handle that.' He's a gentleman. He did his work very well. We did it very quickly, very diligently, and I'm very proud of that record. It's a great record."

By contrast, Houston had no reservations about working with Alicia Keys. She knew as soon as she saw Keys perform that she wanted to get in the studio with the Grammy winner.

"When she performed at one of [Clive's] parties the year before last, I kind of looked at her, and it was when she had [the 'No One'] record out, and it was the only record that came on the radio that inspired me," Houston said. "It made me feel good and happy, and I thought, 'God, she's on the label with Daddy [Clive Davis] here.'

"I thought, 'I got to get to know her. I got to have a camaraderie with some of the people that were on the label where I came back home to,' " she continued.

Keys, of course, said yes. "I walked over to her, and off the cuff said, 'Hey, do you think you could produce me?' She said, 'Yeah, I think I can,' " Houston recounted. "Then I performed a year after, and she came up with the song 'Million Dollar Bill,' and I said, 'Wow, incredible.' "

• MTV News RAW: Whitney Houston

• Whitney Houston
• Akon
• Alicia Keys

Photo: Sam Yeh/Getty Images

If the rumors that Michael Jackson has at least a couple of hundred unreleased songs in his vault are true, then not only will the King of Pop live on forever in spirit, but he will seem to be alive in the industry as well. Those records could be distributed for years to come.

In the years since 2001's Invincible, music's elite have been telling MTV News amazing stories about their collaborations with Jackson for an upcoming album. Though the work was never completed during his life, we can look back at the clues these collaborators gave us to speculate about what MJ's next release would have sounded like.

	Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos

"I'm writing a lot of stuff right now," Jackson told Ebony magazine in 2007. "I'm in the studio, like, every day."

MTV News confirmed that songwriter Sean Garrett, Grammy winners Ne-Yo and Kanye West, and music do-it-all T-Pain had all met with Jackson and discussed work. In June 2008, super-producer Swizz Beatz told us he was crafting tracks for Jackson as well producing pieces for his tour. Even Murder Inc. head honcho Irv Gotti traveled to the Neverland Ranch back in 2002, hoping to Jackson to let him helm the LP.

Chris Brown was pushing for a duet with one of his greatest musical influences in 2007. "He called me for my birthday, and I told him we should do a song," Brown told MTV News. "He was up for it."

DJ Whoo Kid openly dreamed of orchestrating a Jackson/ 50 Cent collaboration in 2006, after sitting down to a weird but extraordinary dinner with Jackson in Bahrain. "He was supposed to be there for like 45 minutes; he stayed for five hours," Whoo Kid recalled of how he met Jackson and later arranged for phone conversations between him and 50.

Jackson worked with Akon on more than one track, and a song called "Hold My Hand" leaked to the Net several months ago.

"He's incredible," 'Kon said of his first collaboration with Jackson, a 2008 remix of "Wanna Be Startin' Something." "He's a genius. Just to be in the same room [with him], I felt everything I wanted to accomplish in life has been achieved. That aura ... that's how incredible that aura is. We about to shake the world up, man. You know how you be with somebody and you can't even explain [the feeling]? I used to sit and think, 'How does somebody sell so many records and dominate a whole business genre, to a point [where] nobody can't be a part of that without associating with you?' The way he thinks ... some artists think regional, some think national, I was thinking international. He thinks planets. It's on another level."

Will.I.Am also told MTV News in 2007 that Jackson called him personally and had him work on a few songs. "I'm a fan of the dude," Will said at the time. "He's the smartest dude I ever met. I met James Brown, had the opportunity to work wit' him too. You get a couple of great people to help you live your life. You got your Michael Jacksons, your James Browns, Princes, Nat King Coles, just to shed light on the Earth.

"Michael Jackson, he told me what rock and roll meant," Will.I.Am added. "He said, 'Rock and roll, you know, that means having sex. That's what they used to say back in the '50s: "You ever rock and roll?" ' Chillin' with him, you have an outlook on what Michael Jackson will be like. He still is real proud of being black. A lot of times he's repressed in the media, so you don't think that."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

• Michael Jackson's Video Legacy
• The BET Awards Honor Michael Jackson
• Michael Jackson's MTV Moments
• Remembering Michael Jackson
• A Celebration Of Michael Jackson On MTV

• Fans Mourn The Loss Of Music Icon Michael Jackson
• Michael Jackson: A Fashion Icon
• Michael Jackson's Greatest MTV Moments

• Michael Jackson
• Will.I.Am
• Akon

Brisco
Photo: Poe Boy

Let's do it bigger than we ever have this time, shall we? Since we're knee-deep in our five-day celebration of Miami, we decided to make Fire Starter extra-special this week and give you five MCs from the city to look out for. Everybody promises they're hot, and unlike some cities, these cats aren't hating on one another; they're showing unity.

"It's well-strategized and well-planed," Cash Money's Brisco explained. "We watched a lot of cats get up and make a lot of money. We're happy to get our time to shine. It feels good to have cats at that high caliber we can rhyme and spar with and take this music to a whole 'nother level from the 305."

Fire Starter: Bound To Blow

Gunplay is a "goon with an attitude," his homie Rick Ross said.

"That's self-explanatory," the Carol City, Florida, native said of his moniker. "I'm just loose with it, man. I'm just trying to calm down thanks to the music industry. It saved me. It's the old ways, but new money. That's what I'm about: new money."

The pursuit of that green has made Gunplay see he can't always be physical to solve problems, especially when you're dealing with executives in the music industry.

"I know how to get business done," he promised. "At the same time, I know how to be me, which is street. I have to turn that on and off now, dealing with this industry, when I wanna get a check. I separate both worlds and try to get money."

As a youngster, Gun's mother moved the family to Miramar, which is one county up from Carol City, but all of 'Play's friends, including Rick Ross, were in the two C's.

"I bumped into Ross. We were doing the little rap stuff. We was taking it serious, we were hustling. But after time, people started going to prison, we just said to ourselves, 'We're gonna take music serious,' and we did. We're here now."

OK, maybe Gun didn't take it as serious as Ross — you know, there's that line in "Magnificent": "I always had a vision, I would always tell my n---as, but ain't nobody listen."

Trust, once Ross' "Hustlin' " hit, he was a believer. Gun got his bars up and definitely surprised many with his appearance on Deeper Than Rap's "Gunplay."

"I had a lot of built-up tension," he said of his aggression on the track. "I tried to let it out in 16 [bars]. I was just letting you know what it really is. I didn't even know I was rhyming. It came out in my heart. It's for the streets. The street felt it. They wanna hear that from Gunplay. That's what I'm gonna give you."

Gun's next step is alongside Ross for a full-length album: the Carol City Cartel LP. Then he has solo aspirations.

"I'm emulating the great," Gun said. "I'm watching all his moves. I took notes. Three years in this game now, I'm seeing exactly how to be a boss from behind the scenes. Naturally, that's just gonna be what I' gonna be. It's gonna come natural."

A Few Others You Should Definitely Be Aware Of

Moniker: Brisco

Nicknames: Mr. Grammy Nominated and the Opa-Locka Goon

Affiliation: Poe Boy Entertainment (management) and Cash Money Records (recording home)

Big Things Promised: Brisco started out hustling, and before he gets to balling too hard, he's trying to be a hip-hop household name like his homies Lil Wayne and the Birdman. "I been around the world and ran through two passports," he told us. His favorite trip has to be to this past year's Grammy Awards. Featured on Lil Wayne's "La La," he got a nod for Weezy's Carter III.

"I'm sharp and I'm ready," he promised. "The caliber of music we're doing is speaking for itself."

Brisc's debut is called Street Medicine, and he's proud of his versatility.

"I'm portraying something I really lived."

Moniker: Ball Greezy

Nicknames: Mr. Shone (as in act-shone!) and the Baby Mama's Favorite

Affiliation: Ball is currently unsigned, but he's been getting big co-signs from Flo Rida, as well as Rick Ross, with whom he has several collaborations.

Big Things Promised: Ball grew up being called "Ball Grim," but the homies gave him the name "Greezy" because he's "swift with everything." True to his name, his rise in the streets this past year has been moving pretty quickly. First came the banger "Shone," then he hit the circuit with "I'm the Sh--," featuring Brisco." "Juk Wit Me" followed, and now the clubs are eating up "Where They Do That At." BG believes teamwork makes the dream work.

	It's Miami Week on MTVNews.com! Stay locked here for all we have to offer from the city's heavyweights.
	»Rick Ross, Trick Daddy Show Why Miami Is The Renaissance City
	»DJ Irie Turns Up The Heat In Miami
	»Rick Ross On His Rise To International Star
	»Pitbull Leads A Tour Of His Miami
	»Go Inside DJ Khaled's Hit Factory
	»Cool & Dre Bring Us Inside Their Miami Digs
	»Miami's Next Week Wave Of MC's
	»Scott Storch Is Back

"Everybody got their own circle, the big dogs," Ball said of his city's established stars and the new generation of MCs. "But down here, we got our own circle too. You're standing with the best. Dade County. We're beating down the streets. If you ain't hearing Brisc, you hearing [Ice Billion] Berg. If you ain't hearing Berg, you hearing [Billy] Blue. If you ain't hearing Blue, you hearing Ball. You hearing somebody. We're doing it."

Moniker: Billy Blue

Nickname: Mr. 36 Reasons

Affiliation: Poe Boy Entertainment (management) and a joint production venture with Timbaland and Akon, through Interscope Records

Big Things Promised: "It's about being you. Spitting what you lived," Blue said of his debut, which will be helmed by Timbo and 'Kon. "Telling people, 'I'm just like you. I'm an ordinary n---a. Had a 9-to-5. I sold drugs, went to jail, been on parole, [have] f---ed up baby mamas. I been through it like everybody in the world been through it. This world is ours. Let's make it happen.' "

Billy is eager to have his fellow up-and-comers get shine as well.

"We're the young generation bringing you what you ain't heard," he promised. "We're the kids of the streets. We were birthed on this concrete. ... We're the young generation that came out the crevice of the concrete. When you 'hood, you good. You know that."

Moniker: Ice Berg

Nickname: Billion Berg

Affiliation: Trick Daddy's Dunk Ryders

Big Things Promised: Berg got his first real taste of glory rapping on Trick's "F--- the Other Side." But, when you roll with an O.G., you have to come correct.

"With him, it's pressure," Berg admitted. "That's the big homie. He's gonna put a lot of pressure on you, whether you're in the studio or not. I love him to death, though. I been around him three or four years now. You still get the heebie-jeebies working with him, but that's him. He's the legend." Look for Berg to drop after Trick releases his Finally Famous in the next couple of months. Until then, Billion has a string of mixtapes circulating through the underground.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: Lil Wayne, Young Buck & More

• Lil Wayne
• Akon

Akon
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

One of Lady Gaga's early supporters was Akon. Not only did he sign the reigning disco queen to his record label, Kon Live Distribution, but he has also lent his vocal talents to her breakout hit "Just Dance."

And now that Gaga is a household name, he couldn't be happier to see her ruling charts and dance floors throughout the world. "She's incredible," he told MTV News. "That's my franchise player at the moment. Gaga's been so incredible."

Akon says Gaga's rocket launch to fame is due to her industrious work ethic, and he thinks that every one of her hits is well-deserved. "At this point, she deserves every bit [of fame]," he said of the singer, who herself credits the gay community for helping make her successful. "If anybody went through grassroots, it was Gaga."

While the mainstream has been discovering Gaga via radio play and her appearances on "Dancing With the Stars" and "American Idol," the hip-hop community has also been tuning in, especially after Kanye West reimagined her song "Poker Face."

"I think she's a magnate to the industry in general," he said about Gaga's being embraced by the hip-hop world. "She's brave. She's fresh. She's different. She's bold. She don't give a damn. You gotta take her as she is. That's the beauty of it. You're forced to like her the way she is without no extra stuff added."

And it's her no-nonsense attitude that makes Akon love her so much. "She's like a sister to me," he said. "That's like my girl. She's right here, in a headlock!"

• Wale And Lady Gaga On The Set Of 'Chillin'
• Lady Gaga: Queen Of The Misfits

• Akon
• Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga, Perez Hilton, Kristin Cavallari Hit Up The 2009 Video Music Awards Afterparties

• Lady Gaga
• Katy Perry
• Soulja Boy Tell'em
• Diddy
• Akon

Keri Hilson Hosts Her 'In A Perfect World' Album Release Party

• Keri Hilson
• Akon
• Red Cafe
• Joe Budden

MTV.com Exclusive: Akon

• Akon

Lil Wayne's Pre-Grammy Party

• Lil Wayne
• Good Charlotte
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2009 Grammy Weekend Parties

• Lil Wayne
• Rihanna
• Akon
• T.I.
• Cassie

On The Set Of DJ Drama's "Daydreamin' " Video Shoot

• DJ Drama
• T.I.
• Akon
• Snoop Dogg

T.I., Nas, Common, More At BET Inaugural Ball

• Common
• Nas
• T.I.
• Young Jeezy
• Nick Cannon

Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, More On The 2008 American Music Awards Red Carpet

• Miley Cyrus
• Jonas Brothers
• Ashley Tisdale
• Akon
• Christina Aguilera

Kanye West, Alicia Keys & More Heat Up Hot 97 Summer Jam In New Jersey

• Kanye West
• Alicia Keys
• Flavor Flav
• Lil Wayne
• T-Pain

Kids' Choice Awards In L.A.

• Usher
• Rihanna
• Ashlee Simpson
• Fallout Boy
• Akon